Cross Trainers and Measuring Your Heart Rate

Using your cross trainer and measuring your heart rate could sounds like a daunting and off putting process, but it really isn’t. Here are a few tips on how to measure your heart rate correctly for the best outcome from using your cross trainer.

Anyone who has ever gone through the cycle of starting and stopping an exercise routine several times will tell you that one key to sticking with your routine is to find something that gives you maximum results in the shortest amount of time. Elliptical cross training fits the bill perfectly. Most people live busy lives and do not have several hours per day to devote to total body exercise, so an elliptical machine lets them get in a good workout in a minimal amount of time. You can vary your workout tremendously, depending on the amount of intensity you want, and also do other things like read or watch TV while on your elliptical machine.

The all-over workout burns calories more effectively than exercising arms and legs only, making cross trainers an ideal way to lose weight.

The range of movement builds flexibility and a few sessions a week on a cross trainer will also improve your general aerobic fitness.

Not only can you use a cross trainer to lose weight but you can also use for interval training which focuses on increasing your personal fitness. Exercising on this piece of equipment with a heart rate monitor, allows you to exercise to a specific heart rate level. The normal range for fat burning is between 50% to 60% of your maximum heart rate.

A simple way to calculate your maximum heart rate would be to subtract your age from 220. For example, if you were 20 years of age your maximum heart rate would be 200. So if you were exercising at 60 % of your maximum heart rate you would be maintaining a heart rate of 120 beats per minute or another way to measure your heart rate quickly would be to hold your index and middle finger over your pulse for six seconds and multiply the number of beats by ten.

An elliptical machine or cross trainer provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, a key part of overall fitness. Cardiovascular fitness is important so that you can live a long and healthy life. Exercising in this way exercises your heart, lungs and cardiovascular system. Aerobic exercise can significantly extend your life expectancy and make certain that your risk of cardiovascular diseases is decreased.